Hello to everyone,

Was looking into Tanabe's TEAS system, it is the active suspension thing and was wondering how people feel about Tanabe products quality wise? More specifically their coilovers? I feel that the Zeal's are nice but really expensive. Looking for something that will be as stiff as it wants to be but has sharp response and delivers the contact patch at all times.....

Thanks for all the opinions,

Alex

 

Tanabe is known for their suspension. A great product...just seemingly under-marketed in this country. Their reputation has definitely gone up among the drifting community (especially the 240sx guys).

Their coilovers are nice. In terms of their entry level coilover...I'm not a big fan of. But if you start looking at their more expensive coilovers, you can definitely see why Tanabe is a great product.

US site
http://www.tanabe-usa.com/

Japan site
http://www.rd-tanabe.com/

Just for fun, look at the Japan site. You'll see stuff there...that hasn't made it's way over to the US yet. (The Air-Cobra for example). This is a goog gauge for what Tanabe is really about.

They are a great company...I just think they aren't marketed well here in the US.

 

Thanks, especially the TEAS was interesting to me seeing as the dampening force is increased as speeds increased. So, I guess you could compare Tanabe to JIC in that way that they are undermarketed? Because, I was also looking at the JIC's they have a little harder spring rates.

Alex

 

You don't want super stiff. You don't want JIC (they SUCK). Spend some time reading coilover threads.....

 

I see how JIC now has a bad rap. But I've used their old FLT-A2s in the past and they felt great and were better than Tein HAs on the same vehicle.

Stiff + Cheap = Apex'i EXV coilovers

 

I have been running Tanabe Sustec Pro S/S for many years now, i think since 2001 or 2002. I received the first setup brought to the US, it was a test fit set that rx7.com installed on my FD.

After many years and many miles (maybe 50-60k?), and a dozen road races and 150 passes down the drag strip, I can say I'm *extremely* happy with them. Haven't had one problem. The car handles beautiful and the ride is bearable. Ive also received a plethora of positive feedback over the years on the stance of my FD.

 

^

That is good to here. I understand why I don't want super stiff, well I think I understand, so probably I don't understand. Is it because a stiff suspension will be super nervous and at speed will be unstable, also it won't be able to account for uneven surfaces.

One thing I do know is that I DO NOT WANT TIEN, but the Sustec Pro looks a little cheap to me, a little like the EXV at least the new Sustec Pro. Sorry if my english is broken. Would anyone else have any other recommendations? I was trying to see what suspension setups various RE Amemiya cars use? If anyone can key me in on that it would be appreciated. I can't remember the coils but I think they mate them to Swift Springs.

Thanks for all the help,

Alex

 

Aragosta uses Swift Springs in their coilovers... but those are pricy as well.

 

tanabe dd were awesome, the new 7's are supposed to be really nice as well.

 

I just want to thank everyone their input. I think finally I am going to be going with the Sustec 7 when it comes out with the TEAS system.

 

i have tanabe DD's on my s13
good solid coilover, ive heard of one case of a strut blowing up
and then the customer service being the ***** and costing sumin like 600us for a new strut that u hav to send to tanabe and have THEM put it in.. retarded

other than that they are decent
aluminum bodied which maks them lighter than most coilovers ive dealt with
one problem i have is that they only have 4 notches to release the locking perches... this sucks when u dont have a lot of room to put any torque on the wrench to break them free
so either u leave them alone once u set them up or deal with it or take them out.

remember to lock tight all the nuts and bolts too
i run 10/8 springs on my s13 and the dampening needs to be adjusted now since the rest of my car is solid
tanabe only has 4 levels of dampening which really translates to soft or hard
the difference between 1 and 2 is very minimal but 1 to 3 u really notice it


id look into stance coilovers, they have a really good rep thus far and if mine were to die on me tomorrow, id get some stance coils.

 

Well the Tanabe 7 with TEAS is supposed to have 16 levels of adjustement and 12 levels without the TEAS so I don't think the spectrum of change would be that narrow.

Also if a shock explodes randomly I will have a nice time with their customer service department and clearly read over their warranty conditions.